North hundred avoids wooden spoon for Warriors

Western Australia 7 for 255 (North 104*) beat Tasmania 8 for 254 (Butterworth 114*, Knowles 5-62) by 3 wickets
Scorecard

Luke Butterworth's career-best 114 made him a hero, but he had lost the status by the end of the match when his final five balls went for 18 and allowed Western Australia to lift from the bottom of the table. North, who will join the Test squad on Monday, steered the chase with an unbeaten 104, making sure they overcame the wobble when Luke Pomersbach was stumped for 45.

The Warriors lost 5 for 41 and needed 54 from the final five overs with North and Drew Porter (36) at the crease. North brought up his century in the last over with consecutive boundaries from Butterworth, and then Porter hit another full toss for six.

Two were required from the last two balls and Porter took them to 7 for 255 with a legside force. Western Australia's win left New South Wales with the wooden spoon while the Warriors moved to fifth.

Tasmania, who currently sit third, slumped to 5 for 57 after winning the toss, but fought back through Butterworth and George Bailey. Brad Knowles grabbed the first three wickets on the way to 5 for 62 - and a bleeding nose - but the Warriors relaxed after their strong start.

Bailey and Butterworth put on 100 for the sixth wicket before Bailey was almost mid-pitch when run out on 56. Butterworth continued to gather useful runs during his 103-ball stay and the lower order collected 57 from the final 30 balls to post 8 for 254.

Butterworth peaked in the final over of the innings as he thrashed 23 from Ben Edmondson to bring up his century. Knowles gained an lbw from Geeves for his fifth breakthrough, but the batsman had taken off for a run and his shoulder hit the bowler in the face.